Disposing of Bulbs
Light Bulb Disposal
All ‘dead’ bulbs need to be disposed of safely and wherever possible, recycled.
Dead light bulbs should always be wrapped in newspaper to avoid the risk of anyone being cut by broken glass.
If your local authority provides recycling facilities, take them to the recycling centre or put them out with the rest of your recyclable rubbish. In places where there are no disposal facilities, just put them out with the household rubbish.
Disposing of CFLs
A CFL that stops working at the end of its life does not release any mercury – so long as the glass tube is not broken. That means you can wrap it in newspaper and dispose of it the same way as any other light bulb.
Obviously, it’s best to recycle them if this service is available in your area.
- Ask your lighting supplier if they provide a drop-off service for CFLs
- Ask your local council if they operate a hazardous waste service. Some offer a drop-off service at the transfer station, such as Wellington City Council and Christchurch City Council. Others offer an annual hazardous waste collection, like Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Palmerston North. Check out www.hazmobile.govt.nz for more information
- Alternatively, visit the Interwaste website (Interwaste is recycling provider for mercury-containing lamps) and buy a prepay box to fill and send then in to be recycled.